Giethoorn – The Floating Utopia

Have you ever wondered where the fairies might live if they have their pick of the world today? Have you ever wondered where you might live – what type of life you might lead – if the choice is based on lifestyle alone? If the hustle and bustle of city living is becoming a bitter pill to swallow and you find yourself dreaming of a simpler life, I have the perfect place for you!

Pronounced “hit-horn”, the traditional Dutch village located 2 hours north-east of Amsterdam is, without a doubt, the floating utopia. The village is almost exclusively accessible via its intricate network of canals and bridges (4 miles and 180 plus of them, to be exact). Tourism seems to be the only modern influence here, and even then, its footprints have been limited to cafes and boat-for-hire stalls along the waterways.

During the Dutch summer, Giethoorn bursts into life with a riot of colours.

You park your worries exactly where you parked your car – right in the visitor car park on the edge of town. Gliding along the picturesque canal systems, passing cute arched bridges and idyllic thatched cottages, I could think of no better way to indulge in a cathartic afternoon. Could you?